The Single-Most Important Question You Must Always Answer! - Part II

Here’s how another candidate answered the question:

            Heather wanted to teach more than anything else in the world.  She also knew that the competition for the 10^th grade social studies position at Central High School was fierce.  Six students from her college were applying for that position in addition to dozens of others from various colleges and universities.  The principal, Mr. Grove, had a tough choice to make.

            During the course of the interview, Mr. Grove made two or three references to the school newspaper – it had gone through four different student editors since the start of the year and the morale among the staff was low.  Heather sensed his concern and in response to the following question – “What would you say is your greatest strength?” – Heather replied:  “I’m a goal-oriented person.  My greatest strength is my ability to be organized and stay organized.  My classroom and my lesson plans are always well-planned and in order.  For example, I believe I can bring those organizational skills to the school newspaper.  I worked for two years on the college newspaper before my student teaching semester.  I’ve taken a few journalism courses and interned at our local newspaper one summer – my uncle is the managing editor – where I worked in a number of departments.  I enjoy a challenge and would welcome the opportunity to bring by background of experiences with journalism and newspapers to Central High School.  If assigned as a faculty advisor, I can assure you of a newspaper operation that will be successful…and very organized.”

The Single-Most Important Question You Must Always Answer! - Part I

It’s the one question that is always in the mind of any interviewer.  It doesn’t matter whether you are interviewing for a job flipping burgers at your local fast food restaurant, interviewing for the CEO position at a major company, or interviewing for a position as the manager of a minor league baseball club – every interviewer has this question on his or her mind when they interview candidates for a position.  And here’s why it is important – the question will never be asked in any interview…but it must always be answered.

            The question is:

How will this person make my job easier?

            You are being interviewed because the interviewer hopes you can bring value, dedication, and expertise to the job.  Those qualities are what any boss wants to see in his or her employees.  Those qualities help the boss (principal) do his or her job better and ensure that a product (education) gets into the hands of the consumer (students).  That single question will never come up in any teacher interview (or any other kind of interview for that matter), but if you can answer the question – several times during the interview - you will put yourself heads and shoulders above the rest of the competition and ensure a very favorable assessment on the interview.

Welcome - Part II

This blog is being written to answer all the questions, concerns, and issues you have about your teacher interview.  Here are some of the topics that will be covered in the next weeks and months (perhaps years):
1.  What you need to know about interviews
2.  Preparing for the interview: how to
3.  Interview formats and types
4.  Key principles for interview success
5.  Mistakes you can't afford to make
6.  The nonverbal advantage (that will get you hired)
7.  The single-most important question you must always answer
8.  123 basic interview questions (+ 123 fantastic responses)
9.  25 Zingers! (+ 25 dynamite answers)
10. Hypothetical and situaltional scenarios
11. Questions you should ask (and questions you shouldn't)
12. Illegal questions
13. Questions to ask yourself
14. Follow-up and follow-through
15. Multi-round interviews
16. Tips and strategies especially for non-traditional candidates
All this information is being gathered together for a new book I am writing for Jist Publishing (Indianapolis, IN) entitled Ace Your Teacher Interview.  The book is tentatively scheduled for publication in Fall 2011 - however, you will get all the information that will be in that book through this blog.  It is my hope and intent to update the blog on a very regular basis so that you get the latest and most pertinent data.  The blog will also be an opportunity for you to pose questions, raise issues, and voice your opinions.  If there is a question or facet of the interview process you would like me to pursue - let me know.  I'll get the answers directly from experts in the field and share it with all the readers of the blog.  Let me know what you think - let me know what you want.  This blog - and the forthcoming book - are both designed to make your interview successful and rewarding.  Or, as it says at the top of the page - Get informed!  Get hired!  Get teaching!
     Next post - The one question you must always answer in an interview!

Welcome!

     You're sweating bullets!  You're worried!  You're anxious!  You have an interview coming up and you don't know what to do.  Well, you're at the right place.  This blog is designed just for you - a teacher candidate trying to figure out what to do and what to say to get your first teaching job.  This blog will provide you with the typical questions asked in a teacher interview (and the dynamite answers that will impress any principal), how to prepare for that all-important interview, key principles for interview success, common interview mistakes you can't afford to make, hypothetical and situation scenarios (and how to respond), questions you should ask in an interview, how to follow-up and follow-through, and a plethora of tips, ideas, and suggestions that will ensure a successful interview for you.
     This blog is all about three words - practical, practical, practical.  What you won't get is lots of "According to research...."; what you will get is lots of down-to-earth advice direct from the field.  You'll hear directly from principals - what they expect and what they want.  You'll hear directly from teacher candidates - what they experienced and what they wished they'd done.  You'll get insider information available from no other source - information you can use...right now, right away!
     Please know that I have been through many interviews in my teaching career.  I’ve experienced sweaty palms, an upset stomach, and outright nervousness.  I’ve messed up some answers and come through with other responses that really impressed the interviewers.  I’ve heard or responded to most of the questions you’ll read about in this blog.

I have also been on the other side of the desk and interviewed scores of candidates for teaching jobs.  I’ve interviewed candidates who impressed me even before they walked in the door as well as others who couldn’t speak above a whisper.  I’ve suffered through long drawn out soliloquies and been on the edge of my chair listening to mesmerizing and attention-grabbing anecdotes.  I’ve even hired (at least in my mind) some candidates long before the interview was over – they were that good!

     In other words, I’ve experienced both sides of the interview process.  Please use my experience and the information I have gathered from principals and teachers-to-be around the country to prepare for your own interview sessions.  You’ll find this advice valuable whether you are anticipating your first interview ever or whether you have been through a few along the way.  I promise you down-to-earth information and a blog filled with positive strategies and techniques that can help you land that all-important teaching position.